Work holder for polishing machines



June 17, 1947. .1. J. MANDERSCHEID ET AL 2 WORK HOLDER FQR POLISHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1945 2 SheetsSheet l m/ V/VTOR James J Mandersc/reid John Ra t/row'c 12 Vincent Kovup ic A TTOR/VE Y5 June 1947- J. J. MANDERSCHEID ET AL 2,422,430

WORK HOLDER FOR POLISHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, '1945 2 Sheetsk-Sheet? l/V l E IV 7'0 95 James J. Mandersche/d John Raf/rowel; 8 BY Vince/7f Kovac/c AWORNEF l Patented June 17, 1947 2,422,430 7 WORK HOLDER FOR POLISHING MACHINES James J. Manderscheid, John Ratkovich, and Vincent Kovacic, Chicago, Ill., assignors to the Manderscheid 00., Chicago, 111., a partnership consisting of James J. Manderscheid and P. M.

Manderscheid Application November 29, 19.45, Serial No. 631,532

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a polishing machine and specially to a novel mechanism for most effectively polishing and/or bufiing lengths of tubing, rod or other stock, and automatically feeding this stock across the polishing wheel at a uniform rate whereby the finished piece is evenly polished throughout its length.

AmOng the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel polishing machine adapted to be used with any standard polishing lathe for polishing tubes, rod or other stock through a wide range of diameters,

A further object of the present invention is to provide a polishing machine which is readily adjustable to any height of any make of polishing lathe and of such size and weight as to make it portable whereby it may be quickly and easily moved to and from a polishing lathe, and when not in use, may be easily stored.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel polishing machine so constructed and arranged as to automatically and accurately feed a tube, rod or the like across the polishing wheel at a predetermined and uniform rate of movement.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel means and mechanism for applying a uniform pressure to a tube, rod or the like to be polished, and which mechanism is so constructed that when the desired pressure is once established, it may be maintained without further adjustment during the polishing op eration upon one or a plurality of tubes or. rods of a desired diameter in sequence.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view part in side elevation and part in vertical cross-section showing the novel polishing machine.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation thereof.

2 Figure 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of the operating head of the polishing machine.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical cross-section of Figure 3 taken in a plane extending through the frame, its tubular housing and the rolls, with the piston, rod and spring or tension means for applying the requisite pressure to the frame and rolls being shown in elevation.

, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a tube or rod positioned between the rolls and their relationship with a polishing wheel duringthe polishing operation.

Referring more particularly to the novel illustrative embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, the polishing machine comprises a head plate I rigidly mounted upon the upper end of a support 2 adjustably mounted in a tubular pedestal 3 mounted upon a base 4. The support 2 is secured in adjusted position by means of an adjusting screw 5 to thereby permit the head or plate of the machine to be adjusted to any height of any make of polishing lathe with which it is employed. Slidably mounted upon and, longitudinally of the head is a frame 6 carrying a pair of oppositely tapered rolls or rollers l and 8 with the frame and rolls adapted to be advanced over the head or supporting plate I for the desired polishing pressure, and quickly retracted therefrom when the occasion requires.

These rolls are tapered in opposite directions with the ends of the shaft 9 of theroller I rotatable held in the opposite sides in of the frame, and. the opposite projecting ends of the shaft ll of the roller 8 rotatably mounted in oppositely disposed brackets l2 pivotally mounted upon a stud or bolt l3 passing through an elongated slot M in the opposite sides I!) of the frame, and readily adjustable through adesired angle or are by means of an arcuate slot l5 and bolt or stud i6 passing through this arcuate slot. A suitable nut l1 locks the studs l3 and It in adjusted position. Each roll 1 and 8 is rotatable in bearings Hi to permit their free rotation during the polishing operation.

The frame 6 is substantially rectangular and includes the opposite sides ill, end plate l9 and roller 1 disposed at the opposite end. It is guided in its movement over the head or supporting plate I by a pair of connecting straps or bars 20 each mounted upon a pair of upstanding studs or bolts A tie rod 2.2 connects the opposite sides I0 and retains the ends of th upper and lower rolls in position.

The upper roll 8 is adjustable toward or. away from the lower roll 1 to compensate for different theshafts 9 and H of against a polishing wheel 24 with sufficient pres:

sure to perform the desired operation, engagement by the operator of the foot pedal 25 advances the head or frame Bofthe machine until the desiredamount of pressure is obtained between the tube or rod to be polished and the polishing wheel. The tube or rod is automatically fed lengthwise of the rolls 1 and 8 and in the direction of the reduced taper of the top roll.

By reversing the rolls, the stock will be fed in the opposite direction. This permits feeding of the tube or rod at a desired rate and gives a uniformly polished surface thereto without the spiral efiect so prevalent when tubing or the like is polished by hand.

The foot pedal advances the head or frame 6 through a connecting wire or cable 25 securely held at its lower end to the foot pedal, and at its upper end passing over a pulley or roller 21 and fixed to a bracket 28 secured to but depending from the end plate or bar l9. Thus as the foot pedal is depressed, the adjustable frame 6 of the machine is moved toward the polishing wheel and applies the desired pressure of the rod or tube to be polished against the polishing wheel. This pressure is maintained by the use of a coil spring 29 encompassing a rod .30 guided in its forward movement by passage through an end wall 3| of a tubular housing 32,. and at its rearward end through a bracket 33 secured upon the upper face of the plate orhead I. The rearward end of this rod is bracket 28 with theforward end free to move in and guided by the end wall 3|. The coil spring 29 is adapted to be compressed between the end wall 29and a piston or plunger 34 secured upon therod 30 intermediate its length and within the tubular housing 32,

A thumb lever or trigger 35 is pivotally mounted at its lower end within the bracket 33 and normally moved to the inclined position shown in Figure 4 by means of a coil spring .36 encompassing th rod 30between this lever or trigger 35 and the bracket 33.. This lever or trigger is provided with an opening of such siZe .to permit the rod to pass freely therethrough when the lever is in a substantially vertical position, but when in the inclined position, the metal or material of the lever. or trigger 35 surrounding the opening, applies sufficient friction to the rod to retain it and the head or frame 6 in advanced position against the pressure of the spring 21. However, upon forward movement of the thumb lever to release the rod, the spring tension is relieved and thereby automatically causes the head to move rearwardly or toward the operator and releases all pressure upon the rolls.

The rolls 1 and 8 are preferably reversely tapered in such manner as to cause the tube or rod being polished to feed longitudinally, of the rolls. These rolls may be of any rubberor rubber-like material, plastics such as those formed of natural or synthetic resinous compositions, fabric including canvas, muslin and the like, and in fact of any material suitable for the purpose.

Furthermore, although a foot lever is shown for moving the adjustable frame into proximity to the polishing or buffing wheel, such movement secured in the plate wand.

4 may be initiated or controlled by hand or other actuating means. Likewise, any suitable means may be provided for releasing and retracting the rolls, when the occasion requires.

It will be readily apparent that the invention comprehends a novel means and mechanism to be employed or associated with any standard form or type of polishing lathe, and one that assures a uniform polishing surface without the spiral effect so prevalent when tubing is polished by hand. In addition to greatly facilitating the polishing or buffing operation, whether accomplished with a wheel or abrasive belt, it relieves the manual effort now required and eliminates all of its disadvantages.

In the operation of the device, the upper roll 8 is adjusted with respect to the lower roll I to receive a tube or rod of a diameter to be polished. When adjusted to its proper position for receiving the proper diameter of stock, the upper roll may also be adjusted at either end forward or backward to cause the stock to feed to the right or left, and the brackets I2 carrying this upper roll are then locked in position by tightening the nuts I! on the studs or bolts I 6. The machine being portable, is then moved to its proper position in front of the polishing lathe and by the operator depressing the foot pedal 25, the. frame 6 carrying the rolls and length of stock, is moved into engagement with the polishing wheel or belt and presses the stock thereagainst with the desired pressure. By means of the novel thumb lever or trigger frame in place, this position is maintained until the lever or trigger is moved to a substantially vertical position which automatically releases the frame and the spring tension returns the frame and rolls to an inoperative position.

Having thus disclosed the invention, we claim:

1. Mechanism for mounting and retainin a tube or rod during a polishing operation, comprising a portable machine adapted to be readily moved into position adjacent a polishing wheel and including an adjustable frame, a pair of rolls freely rotatable on the frame, means for adjusting one of said rolls with respect to the other to mount and retain tubes or rods of different cross sections therebetween during the polishing ope -eration, means for tensionally retaining ,the

frame and rolls in adjustedposition, and means V for releasing the tension whereby to cause re traction of the frame and rolls.

2. Mechanism for use in the polishing of a length of stock such as a tube, rod or the like,

comprising a member having a support, a frame 7 adjustable upon the support, a pair of. rolls adapted to receive a length of stock, means for adjusting said rolls relative to each other to accommodate stock of varyin diameters, means for moving the frame and rolls to bring the stock into contact with an abrasive belt or polishing wheel, means for tensionally retaining the frame and rolls in operativeposition, and a quick release for relieving the tension on the frame and rolls,

3. A portablemachine for polishing stock such as tubes or rods and adapted for use with various polishing lathes, comprising a base, an adjustable support mounted on the base, a head adjustable with respect to the support, a pair of rolls carried by the head and adjustable with respect to each other to accommodate therebetween tubes or rods of different diameters, means for locking the rolls in adjusted position, means. for. tensionally retaining the rolls and the tube or rod carried there- 35 automatically locking the,

by in polishing position, and a quick release for releasing the tension on the rolls.

4. A portable machine for use with a polishing wheel on a polishing lathe for retaining and feeding a tube or rod to be polished during the polishing operation, comprising a pair of rolls, a frame, means for mounting the rolls upon the frame in such manner that the rolls are relatively adjustable with respect to each other, means for moving the frame and adjusted rolls into polishing position, means for locking and tensionally retaining the rolls and frame in adjusted relation to permit the polishing of a plurality of tubes or rods in sequence, and means for releasing the locking means and thereby relieving the tension on the rolls.

5. Mechanism for use in the polishing of a length of stock such as a tube, rod or the like, comprising a member having a support, a frame adjustable upon the support, a pair of rolls adapted to receive a length of stock, means for adjusting said rolls relative to each other to accommodate stock of varying diameters, means for moving the frame and rolls to bring the stock into contact with an abrasive belt or polishing wheel, means for tensionally retaining the frame and rolls in operative position, and means for quickly releasing the tension on the frame and retracting the rolls should the occasion require.

6. Mechanism for use in the polishing of a length of stock such as a tube, rod or the like, comprising a member having a support, a frame adjustable upon the support, a pair of rolls adapted to receive a length of stock, means for adjusting said rolls relative to each other to accommodate stock of varying diameters, means for moving the frame and rolls to bring the stock into contact with an abrasive belt or polishing wheel, means for tensionaliy retaining the frame and rolls in operative position, and means for relieving the tension on the frame and rolls and causing their automatic retraction from the abrasive belt or polishing wheel.

7. Mechanism for mounting a tube or rod whereby to retain and feed it across a polishing wheel during a polishing operation, comprising a portable machine adapted to be readily and conveniently positioned adjacent the polishing wheel and including a support held in fixed position, a frame adjustably mounted on the support and carrying a pair of rolls, means for adjusting the rolls to receive a tube or rod of desired crosssection therebetween, means for moving the frame and rolls into operative position in which the tube or rod is brought into contact with the wheel, and applying a desired pressure on the rolls and tube or rod when in operative position, and a quick release for relieving the pressure on the rolls.

8. Mechanism for mounting a tube or rod whereby to retain and feed it across a polishing wheel during a polishing operation for giving the tube or rod a uniformly polished surface, comprising a base, a frame adjustable with respect to the base, a roll mounted at the forward end of the frame, a second roll carried on the frame and extending substantially parallel to the first mentioned roll and adjustable with respect thereto for receiving a tube or rod of a predetermined diameter between the rolls, means for moving the frame and rolls to cause the tube or rod to engage the polishing wheel with the desired amount of pressure, means for applying and resiliently retaining the desired pressure on the frame and rolls, and means for releasing the pressure on and automatically retracting the frame and rolls, when desired.

9. Mechanism for mounting a tube or rod whereby to retain and feed it across a polishing wheel during a polishing operation for giving the tube or rod a uniformly polished surface, comprising a base, a frame adjustable with respect to the base, a pair of tapered rolls one of which is mounted at the forward end of the frame and the other adjustably mounted on the frame above and to the rear of the first mentioned roll, said rolls being mounted on an axis transverse to the face of the polishing wheel, means for moving the frame to cause the tube or rod to engage the polishing wheel with the desired amount of pressure, means for applying and resiliently retaining the desired pressure on the frame and rolls, and means for releasing the pressure on and automatically retracting the frame and rolls, when desired.

JAMES J. MANDERSCHE'ID. JOHN RATKOVICH. VINCENT KOVACIC.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 505,221 Harper Sept. 19, 1893 1,471,281 Ries Oct. 16, 1923 1,892,453 Fuller f g, g Dec. 2'7, 1932 

